The Great Worm Lich

“Sir, let me check your backpack. GPS device? No problem with that. Many tourists love buying this little machine that accompanied them in the Amazon as a souvenir. Ooh, an exquisite sculpture that looks like a precious Tatetutu antique. I’m sorry, you can’t take it with you. And these two beautiful beetles in a glass bottle, I’ve never seen such magical insects that could change color. I’m suspecting they’re rare, endangered species so you can’t take them as well.”

“I captured the beetles in the Tatetutu jungle while I brought this toad with me from America…”

“Sir, it’s hard for me to believe that you would bring a toad sculpture from America to Tatetutu if you have no proof.” The short and plump native security officer shook his head as if he was playing drums while speaking in fluent English.

“I have proof.” Zhang Lisheng was going to fight back angrily but an idea popped into his head. He grabbed his backpack from the security office and took out a $10 bill from his pocket. He put it into his backpack and handed it over to the security officer. “I think this proof is sufficient.”

The security officer looked into the backpack and said while his eyes lit up, “It seems like you really did bring this toad from America but these two beetles…”

“Okay…” Zhang Lisheng grabbed his backpack once more and tossed another $10 bill in. “How about now?”

The security officer took the backpack from Zhang Lisheng’s hands and grabbed the money, shoving it into his pocket without hiding afterward. He smirked and said, “I’m sorry sir, an honest mistake. These are just some ordinary bugs you can find anywhere in the Amazon. You could totally bring them back to America but I would like to remind you that I’ve been to America, the people over there aren’t as understanding as we are. It’s best that you put these two bugs in your pocket and bring them everywhere with you when you pass the security check.”

Zhang Lisheng was stunned after hearing the security officer’s reminder. He was not sure whether he should laugh or cry seeing the plump native sincerely smiling while trying to help. He had no idea what to reply, all he did afterward was pass the security quickly after carrying his backpack.

There was no boarding gate in Rukututu airport so the passengers could walk straight to the plane right after they passed security. The temperature out there was very high under the scorching sun past 8 a.m. Standing under the sun while looking at the old, worn airport bus far away while recalling the trouble at the security check, Zhang Lisheng finally understood why the airport had to board the passengers so early.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we can send you straight to the plane. It’ll only cost you $5, you’ll arrive at the boarding stairs into the plane as soon as you get off the car. It’s very convenient,” the native cab drivers extended their head out of the car window and said in a friendly manner seeing the passengers rushing out the airport terminal.

“American Airlines flight UT-0098.”

The cab driver started the engine and drove Zhang Lisheng to the runway. It arrived before a Boeing 747 after taking a big round. After paying and getting off the car, Zhang Lisheng looked at Tatetutu’s dense rainforest from far away and boarded the plane. Over ten hours later, he arrived at New York JFK Airport after getting off the plane.

The weather was cold in New York in the winter months like January. Although he was mentally prepared and put on a few t-shirts, the brutal wind made Zhang Lashing shiver as soon as he got off the plane. He had just recalled that the full luggage of clothes his mother packed for him was long gone. He forced a smile while rubbing his nose and got onto the airport bus immediately. He headed to the airport exit together with over 100 passengers.

Passing through immigration in America when you came from tropical countries was very strict even for American citizens because it was easy for them to smuggle illegal goods. However, since the Tatetutu native security officer reminded, Zhang Lisheng shoved the two dying color-changing beetles in his pockets. He passed through immigration quickly, looking like a young tourist after merely showing the stuff in his backpack.

Walking out of JFK Airport’s exit, there were only a few people standing at the bright corridor waiting for the people’s arrival. Zhang Lisheng saw Lili with the sign ‘Lisheng baby’ at first glance. His mother was looking around in panic while holding the sign. Zhang Lisheng felt warmth in his heart after seeing that. He walked to his mother quickly, ditching his initial plan of settling the stuff that he brought back from the Amazon. “Mom, why did you come? I already told you that I’ll take a cab…”

“I could finally see you, baby. You’ve left me for a whole month, how could I not come to pick you up since you’re coming home today? How are you? You lost some weight, oh god, why do you look so tired my baby? The school will open two days later, take a good rest and get your energy back. And why are you dressing so little? Didn’t I pack you thicker clothes…” Lili went up to him in panic after seeing Zhang Lisheng’s current state. She hugged her son and began nagging while her eyes turned red.

Naturally, Zhang Lisheng could not tell her that the reason he looked tired was because he had to chant witchcraft incantation to guide Crocodragon all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. “I was rushing to the airport and left my luggage in the hotel in Tatetutu. Mom, let’s get out. I’m tired, I want to go home now.”

“Alright baby.” Lili held her son’s arm while looking happy and satisfied. They walked out of the airport following the outdoor tunnel and got into their car while shivering in the wind. They drove back home to the Bronx along the bright New York streets. Everything was the same at home. The kids had gone to bed while the master Sullo was still working overtime. Zhang Lisheng smelled something nice as soon as he walked into the house. Lili made thick beef soup in a pot before heading to the airport, she calculated the time to make it ready just in time.

“Baby, warm your body with some porridge before you go to bed okay? Oh yeah, Stephen came back from the University of California campus in Los Angeles while you were away. He’s now a football player. He also brought a beautiful girlfriend home. Sigh, he almost went out of his mind when he saw Michelle getting hurt. He bought everyone gifts, yours is on the couch in the living room. Unfortunately, all university sports players have training during the holiday so he went back to Los Angeles before you came back. You guys could only meet during summer,” Lili said without any stops while scooping porridge for him.

“Stephen must be Uncle Lavin’s eldest son. Is my gift the microscope on the couch? That’s quite handy.” Hearing what his mother said, Zhang Lisheng, who happened to walk by the couch, spoke casually, “I’ll get Stephen some good football gear when I meet him.”

“Oh baby, he’s your brother so you don’t have to buy him anything back.”

“Then I’ll save a few hundred dollars.” Zhang Lisheng walked around the living room before heading towards the open kitchen. He said casually while taking the bowl of beef porridge his mother handed, “Mom, it’s good to be home.”

“Oh, baby…” Lili was touched after hearing what his son said and hugged him. In the warm atmosphere, Lili watched Zhang Lisheng finish the big bowl of beef porridge and sent him to his room afterward. “Good night baby, take a good rest. I’ll make you delicious beef pies tomorrow morning.”

“Good night mom,” Zhang Lisheng said his good nights and closed the door. It was almost a month since the room was empty but it was very clean. It was clear that Lili was cleaning his room despite him being away.

Zhang Lisheng looked at the time after closing the door. It was 3:20 a.m… He thought about something for a bit and changed into a thick, black sports attire he found in his wardrobe within moments and took out the GPS device that worked globally from his backpack. He keyed in ‘America New York Queens cargo port’ in the browse column on the screen.

The Queens cargo port’s location and Zhang Lisheng’s coordinates were shown clearly on the screen after browsing. The GPS showed the best route from one location to another which was 78 kilometers while the distance between them if it was a straight path was only 51 kilometers. Zhang Lisheng smiled without noticing when he glanced at the ’51 kilometers’ on the screen. He climbed onto his bed and opened the window above his bed.

The chilly wind blew into the house, messing up the young man’s short hair. Zhang Lisheng softly chanted witchcraft incantation and hopped out of the window. He stood on Island Dragon’s curled neck that was invisible. He turned around to shut the window and put on the hoodie on his top. He walked up in a testing manner one step after another on his wizard gu’s neck. Just when he sat down and wanted to control Island Dragon to move, he heard a chirping noise ringing in his backpack all of a sudden. Zhang Lisheng picked up his phone in a panic, he was afraid that the ringtone might wake his mother up.

“Lisheng, are you back in New York?” It was Tina who called.

“I just got back, I’m going to rest now.”

“Don’t rest just yet, please don’t rest just yet. I’m with Trish and many good friends celebrating Sheila’s recovery at NYU Langone Medical Center Department of Psychiatry’s ward. She has fully recovered. Do you know that my dear Lisheng, Sheila has recovered…”

“How much did you drink, Tina? It’s 2 a.m. at the moment.”

“My dad grounded me for 20 days and I’m finally free, seizing the opportunity that he’s in Cuba…”

“Drinking at the hospital isn’t anything good. Be careful not to spoil Sheila’s head again with alcohol. I’m going to bed, good night.” Zhang Lisheng switched off the phone right away after finishing his call. He then put the phone into his pockets casually while staring at the GPS screen. He controlled Island Dragon to hop up, heading towards the Queens cargo port’s direction.

The wizard gu stretched its slender and light body, gliding and traveling through the dimmed New York streets and alleys. Sitting straight on Island Dragon, Zhang Lisheng traveled across New York’s night sky like an inconspicuous specter since he dressed in black. He saw many crimes and did nothing. After passing a filthy district, he had finally arrived at the majestic Queens shore.

The shore was filled with hard reefs while disgusting stench filled the air. Zhang Lisheng looked ahead and saw the huge port standing at the end of the reefs.